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Tke Magic Ladder 



In a castle on a high peninsula lived die Princess wifli cats’ ears. 

— Pag t 58 



OJagtc XJatitier 

anU SDtfiet stories 


I By 

The Pupils of Washington Seminary 

Cover Design and Illustration by 
Harriet Clark Scoft 



Edited by Mary Wallace Brooks, Teacher ol 
English in Washington Seminary 
Washington, Penna. 



-137m 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS | 

Two Copies Received 

DEC 21 1905 

Copyright Entry 

'h 13 . i 96 S' 

CLASS CL XXc. No. 



Copyright 1905 

by Mary Wallace Brook; 


To 

Our Principals 
Miss M acT> onald 
and 

Miss Thompson 



ffiagtc Hatter 

LONG time ago in {he prov- 
ince of Lorraine dwelt Rupert, 
a good king, the beloved ruler 
of bis people, and tbe loving 
father of a beautiful liftle 

princess. 

Now when this child was but six years 
old she was stolen hy brigands and car- 
ried to the mountains, where she was 
hidden securely from the king’s scouts. 
During these years the king never slept, 
never talked, and never moved ; he was 
constantly thinking of his child, always 
striving and planning for her recovery. 
His hair grew white, and his brain grew 
dull except to this one subject. Then a 
strange fancy took hold of him,— {hat the 
fairies would not leave the beautiful golden- 
haired child in his keeping because the 
palace was too dull and gloomy to be a 
fit home for her. So he made light the 



2 


i^agfc Jlatibn: 


rooms that were dark, and caused joy to 
displace sadness, by giving generous gifts 
to his subjects, and commanded that every 
face be happy at his approach. 

But the king’s face was unhappy and 
no smile lightened his brow; for still the 
princess was not found. 

Ten years had passed since her disap- 
pearance when {he king called a great 
meeting of his people, and with threats 
and promises urged them to help him gild 
{he dome of his palace. In a dream he 
had seen it shining like gold and as, filled 
wifh awe, he drew nearer, he had seen his 
daughter’s golden hair gleaming in the 
sun light as she rode toward him on a wild 
horse from the mountains. Was not this 
an omen of her return ? 

Then the people were afraid, for they 
knew it was impossible to scale the tower 
and reach {he dome of the palace. But 
the king still entreated, and at last prom- 
ised the hand of the maiden, when she 
should return, to the man who could ac- 
complish this feat. Many knights tried 
and failed, and many brave men lost 
their lives in {he perilous ascent ; but still 
the dome remained untouched. 


®&e Slagle Earner 


3 


Now in the mountains dwelt a youth 
who had many dear companions among 
the fairies. They had given him a ladder 
small enough to he carried in his hand, 
yet one which, when he mounted it, would 
reach to the clouds. 

One day die youth heard through the 
fairies of the king’s distress. “I do not 
want to marry the lost princess,’’ said the 
youth, for I love my golden-haired maid 
of die mountains ; but I will gild the 
dome of the king’s palace.” 

Telling his love of his errand, he hade 
her good-bye and started on his journey. 
When he reached the palace and mounted 
his small ladder, great was the amazement 
of the people. But greater still was their 
wonder when the ladder shot up to the 
dome and the youth began his work. On 
the afternoon of the diird day he de- 
scended, leaving the dome glittering in die 
sunlight. 

The people stood in awed silence, 
watching die marvellous spectacle. Then, 
as die king moved toward die youth, a 
dirill ran through die crowd. King and 
youth turned, and there in die same bright 
sunlight galloped a horse, hearing on his 


4 ^agic Zabbet 

back a golden-haired maiden of great 
beauty. 

“My love! my love!’’ breathed tbe 
youtb, as sbe stopped beside bim. 

“ My child ! my lost child ! ” cried fbe 
gray-haired king. 

Jessie Lambie. 



B Qap in tDe Q)ooi)0 

OODNESS! exclaimed Ger- 
trude, “I never heard such 
loud thunder.’’ 

“ Oh, that wasn’t thunder,” 
said a bright liftle sprite, com- 
ing out from behind a tree near her. “ That 
was fhe signal for Queen Merrybell’s staff 
to meet. They always meet in fhis part 
of the realm on the Queen’s birfhday to 
make laws.” 

“Oh, are you a fairy ? What is your 
name? and may I stay while you are all 
here? I have always wanted to see 
fairies,” cried Gertrude in great excitement. 

“Yes, you may stay, hut he very care- 
ful not to knock down any of die seats 
for die staff officers,” said Fernleaf, after 
telling her his name. 

“Where are die seats?” inquired Ger- 
trude. But while she was asking, she 
caught sight of a hundred lovely liftle 



6 


ft jRap in tt>t flfllootig 


toad-stools which ten liftle boys were cov- 
ering wifti soft, {hick green moss. “ How 
beautiful!’’ she cried. 

Just {hen she heard {he softest tinkle, 
tinkle of bells, and turned in time to see 
{be mounted staff of fairy officers ride in 
wifb their queen at {he head on a prefty 
white pony. Now {he music began in 
earnest, while the officers sang in fine har- 
mony about {be excellent rule of Queen 
Merrybell, and how {bey wished her num- 
berless happy birthdays, ending each 
stanza wifh {be refrain: 

“Queen Merrybell, Queen Merrybell, 

Tbe best of rulers she. 

Come, fairies, of her praises tell 
In joyous melody.” 

In a short time each officer was in his 
place, and after {be queen and her four 
guards had reached their special seats, 
every liftle hat was doffed, and every right 
knee touched {be ground. 

“ What are {bey going to do now?’’ 
whispered Gertrude to Fernleaf. But Fern- 
leaf didn’t have time to answer before big 
raindrops began to fall. Quick as a wink 
{be guards had a leaf canopy over Queen 
Merrybell, and were leading her to a 


51 j^ap in t&e flfllootuef 


7 


hollow place in a tree trunk near Gertrude. 

When the Queen was sale, Fernleaf 
came running back to Gertrude, begging 
her to seek shelter. But she was too large 
to enter any of die fairy retreats, so she was 
obliged to stand out in the rain. Fernleaf 
was much concerned about her, and ran 
back to the Queen to tell her all about the 
little girl who was getting so wet. And 
as Fernleaf was a special favorite with 
the Queen, she commanded fifty men to 
put on their raincoats, and go with him to 
see what could be done. 

When Fernleaf saw that Gertrude had 
lain down on the sheltered side of an oak 
tree whose leaves were nearly all on the 
ground, the idea came to him to cover her 
with leaves, and thus protect her from the 
raindrops. He and his men worked hard 
and fast and soon had her well covered. 
They took care also to pile the leaves 
high on something red which Gertrude had 
put beside her. 

“Oh, thank you all many times! I am 
sure I shall not get wet now. And please 
take this pearl to Queen Merrybell, witti 
my respectful ttianks. And here is one 


8 


& jgap m tfre flfllootig 


for you, Fernleaf. I flunk I could go to 
sleep now,— I feel so comfortable. 

But Gertrude didn’t go to sleep. In- 
stead, sbe woke up. 

“Wby, where are you, Fernleaf?’’ sbe 
said, a liftle dazed. But Fernleaf and die 
staff officers were gone. 

Wide awake again, sbe saw that sbe 
was almost covered wifli leaves and that 
ber dress and bair were a liftle damp. 
Hunting around for ber Red Fairy Book, 
sbe found it dry as could be under tbe 
leaves beside ber. But where was ber 
pearl necklace? At last it was found too; 
but die string was broken and two pearls 
were missing. And Gertrude believes still 
that die fairies helped tbe wind to cover 
ber up with leaves, and that sbe gave the 
two pearls to Queen Merrybell and Fern- 
leaf. 


Elizabeth C. Gist . 


In tlje JJfngDom of Qtimtog 

AR across the sea is die beau- 
tiful kingdom of Nidaros, 
where everyone is so happy 
that years come and go like so 
many golden hours. No one 
is ever ill in Nidaros, for sickness of mind 
or body is unknown, and the people work 
so diligently {hat the wolf never knocks 
at their doors, or even so much as draws 
near. Thus they live year by year in 
peace and happiness. 

But it was not always so. Many 
years ago a little prince was born in this 
wonderful kingdom, and he was such a 
dear liftle prince, wifli such curly hair and 
such lovely blue eyes, that everyone loved 
him. When his nurse took him out to 
play in {he sand on the sea shore, the 
children would stop their games, and now 
and then a loyal liftle subject would bring 
a tribute of flowers. 



10 


Jit t&e ISingtiom of JHtrarosJ 


Now at the court of Nidaros there was 
a liftle lad whose father was a shepherd. 
Th is little fellow, whom {lie courtiers 
called Elsinor, was {he inseparable com- 
panion of the young prince. The differ- 
ence in their rank was apparently of no 
consequence; {heir friendship was that of 
a David and Jonathan. Every evening 
when the moon was bright, the two friends 
would go down to the shore, and there 
beside the beautiful sea {hey would listen 
to the tales their nurse told them of lands 
far beyond the water. The glimmering 
waves, too, spoke wonderful things to the 
heart of the liftle prince. Then he would 
wish that he could learn more of this 
strange sea-language. But when he spoke 
of his wish, the nurse only laughed at his 
fancies. 

Thus the liftle prince grew, always lov- 
ing the sea more and more. Every day 
its language became more plain to him, 
till one evening as he sat alone, having 
left Elsinor and the nurse at some dis- 
tance, the voice of the sea came to him 
with an irresistible power. It seemed to 
call him, and he fancied that every wave 
was an outstretched arm, beckoning. 


In tfie I&mgtiom of jRttmrog 


11 


"But I cannot leave the Queen, my 
mother, he thought. “And Elsinor,— 
what would he do without me?” 

“ Come, come, come,” sang the waves, 
and the arms beckoned persuasively. The 
liftle prince still resisted, but the wistful 
voice became more appealing till at last he 
yielded. 

The sea had won its own. 

The kingdom of Nidaros was plunged 
into mourning ; liftle children at their play 
missed their young sovereign, and fathers 
and mothers were sad because of their 
king’s sorrow. But all was as nothing 
compared to the silent grief of the liftle 
Elsinor. Sadly he walked by the sea. 
Wearily he thought of the palace he had 
left, of the little vacant room of the prince 
and of the wretched king and queen. 

Then a wonderful dung happened! Out 
of the sea came a voice,— earnestly he lis- 
tened as it spoke. Yes, he would do it,— 
for the sake of the lonely queen he would 
do it. 

“But will not die Prince be unhappy 
and ever long for the realms he has left ? 

“No,” came die answer from die waves, 
with die promise diat the prince should be 


12 


In tit Itfngdom ot jgidatog 


restored and that die sea-longing should 
never more possess him. Only there was 
a condition-Elsinor must take his place. 
Would he ?— Could he ?— 

Again die sea triumphed. 

Now the kingdom of Nidaros is joyful 
as before, and all day long the people 
work and die children play wifh never a 
diought of woe. The young prince walks 
proudly beside his noble sire, and die 
Queen modier is filled with happiness. 
Everything is as beautiful as in the 
prince s childhood,— but die liftle Elsinor is 
gone. 

Sarah McDonald . 


{Just a ©trfc 

BOUT five years ago, I, a 
liftle bird of ordinary appear- 
ance, was batched in a blos- 
soming apple-tree. My parents 
took unusual care of me and I 
know now that, although they never told 
me so, they loved me dearly. For two 
years I enjoyed the love of such a home. 
When, however, I began to go into society, 
I met some friends who gave me such 
wonderful ideas of the outside world that, 
growing dissatisfied in die place where love 
reigned, I left home. Often have I thought 
of fhat departure, and vividly do I re- 
member my fafher’s and mofher’s last fare- 
well. More {ban once since I have had a 
chance to say, “There is no place like 
home.’’ 

When I left my home, I set my wings 
in a southward-bound direction, and as 
my feathered sails were not used to labo- 



14 


3lu$t a ©itti 


rious exercise, I was frequently obliged to 
stop at some neighboring town. Of course 
I must confess that my fliroat would often 
fill with something I could not swallow, 
and habitually tears came to my eyes as 
the shadows of evening drew near,— the 
time when my father always sang us a sun- 
set song. One advantage, however, of fliese 
many stops on my way to that land of 
flowers,— Florida,— was that they gave me 
an opportunity to meet all species of 
birds. 

Oh the strange feeling I experienced 
when I flew into the “land of promise,” 
as I thought it then! Imagine a bird of 
my age in a town where I knew no one, 
and no one knew me. It was a peculiar 
sensation. But I have found out that God 
cares for everyone, even if he is just a 
bird. 

it did seem as if my journey had been 
heralded, because only a few hours after 
my arrival I met Mr. Robin, who was the 
image of myself. We conversed in our 
language and he asked me to his home to 
spend the evening. How his cozy nest 
reminded me of the flowery bower that I 
had left in the far North ! I stayed with 


Itigt a IBitb 


15 


this new acquaintance for a year, and fhen 
a wonderful change came into my life. I 
fell in love with his daughter. 

My friends in this sunny land thought 
I had a beautiful voice and by their re- 
quest I had given a number of private re- 
citals. But the reason why my songs 
were felt so much more at this time was 
because I was in love. My songs, like 
those of a poet, were sung in a way that 
can be rendered only once in a life-time, 
when a youth of m^ age experiences what 
people call “ Love. ’ It is a feeling that 
can be expressed only in one’s work. 

A year after I left home I was a mated 
bird. My bride and I for a year were as 
happy as two butterflies; hut just as surely 
as darkness follows sunshine, so some 
days in a married life must be dark and 
dreary. These days came to me when 
my dear little bride was killed. She was 
so pretty !~One day a boy fhought so too 
and killed her with a cruel stone. 

My friends and even my cozy nest did 
not seem the same after she was gone, and 
wifh broken health and heart I turned my 
face towards my home among fhe apple- 
blossoms. Mofher and Fattier had heard 


16 


giugt a Bltb 


very liffcle of me since I left, but all my 
early faults were forgotten when I fluttered 
into tbeir tree one spring evening. You 
should have seen my reception. It was 
royal ! My dear friends, never think you 
can do hefter away from home, but heed 
one who has traveled over hill and vale. 
Be satisfied wifh what you have, even if 
you are just a bird. 

Bessie Farley . 



(Bp Vteti to a @trattge X£anfc 

HAD been riding for three 
days beneath fhe broiling sun 
on the desert in die southern 
part of Arizona, and conse- 
quently I have never been able 
to decide whether what I am about to re- 
late was hallucination or reality. 

As, about three o’clock one afternoon, 
I mounted to the top of a small hill, my 
eye fell upon a fertile valley, through the 
midst of which flowed a river, sparkling 
in fhe rays of a bright sun. Upon the 
hanks of this river was situated a town of 
extraordinary appearance. From where I 
sat on my horse, the houses looked as if 
fhey had been dropped from the skies, and 
then left just where fhey lit. There was 
no regularity in the plan of the town : fhe 
streets were crooked, and the houses were 
built in the most grotesque styles imagina- 
ble. For instance, one I passed later was 



18 


ffteit to a Strange Han't} 


built on a slant, wifli a roof cut down to 
tbe first floor in tbe shape of a V. There 
were numerous doors, in which I saw a 
great number of keyholes of large size. In 
the front of this odd domicile there were 
no windows. On the street was a large 
gate with a winding pathway leading to 
the house. 

I descended the hill and entered a street 
which led toward flie centre of the town. 
The street zigzagged back and forth so fliat 
I could not see more than fliirty feet of it 
at a time, and at every turn was a group 
of five or six lamp-posts. But the stran- 
gest feature of all to me was that every 
person I met staggered to and fro on the 
crooked pavements as if he were intoxi- 
cated. 

I rode on in amazement until I came 
to a building, which, from its size I sup- 
posed to be a public building— possibly {he 
court house. In front of the building stood 
a fountain. I allowed my horse to drink, 
and dismounted to quench my own {hirst, 
which had become severe. Several men 
and women were drinking from the foun- 
tain, while others were walking unsteadily 
along the street. I satisfied myself wifli 


fffeit to a Strange EanH 


19 


copious draughts of the sparkling liquid, 
which I {bought must be a peculiar kind 
of mineral water, for it had a taste foreign 
to my palate. 

Soon, however, my head began to whirl 
and a sudden dizziness came over me. I 
glanced at the horse and saw {hat he was 
swaying back and forth upon his feet. 
Filled with wonder, I asked a man who 
was leaning against a post near by, what 
kind of water this was which flowed from 
die fountain. 

“Water!” he cried. “That is not 
water,— it is alcohol.” 

“Where does it come from?” I asked 
in bewilderment. 

“ From the town reservoir, which is 
supplied from {he river,” was the answer. 

With {his response, a light broke slowly 
over my confused mind. I now saw an 
explanation for the zigzag streets, for the 
numerous lamp-posts grouped at {he cor- 
ners, and for the haphazard architecture of 
the buildings. The inhabitants of this ab- 
surd town used alcohol as we of the rest 
of the world used water. Thus they were 
always in the state which we call intoxi- 
cation, yet which was for them the natural 


20 


$i0tt to a &ttattgr %attd 


state. It was marvellous ! I could scarcely 
have believed it had not my own condi- 
tion been proof of the fact. 

Presently I saw a man, who was differ- 
ent from anyone I had yet observed. He 
was walking wifh head erect, and wifh a 
firm and unfaltering step very different 
from the reeling gait of those whom he 
passed. 

“Poor fellow,’’ said the man who had 
informed me about the liquid in the foun- 
tain, “Poor fellow, its a pity he can’t 
leave water alone.’’ 

“What!” I exclaimed, unable to believe 
that I had heard him aright. 

“Yes,” he continued, “water is the curse 
of this town. There are more young men 
ruined through it in one year, than are 
killed in our factories in three.” 

I was so surprised at this statement, 
and my mind was so confused with the 
strange things I had seen and heard since 
I entered this fantastic town, that I felt I 
must get away and be alone to think the 
experience over. Wifh the assistance of 
several bystanders, I mounted my horse 
and we reeled away down the winding 
street. 


Etett to a Strange Eana 


21 


When I came to and looked around me, 
I found diat my horse had stopped and 
was gazing off over the vacant desert. 
Dusk was just falling. I ruhhed my eyes 
and searched the landscape in every direc- 
tion. The sand stretched away in a level 
plane to die horizon, but besides myself 
and the horse not a living plant or animal 
was to be seen. And to fliis day it re- 
mains a mystery to my mind, whether I 
had suffered from sunstroke, had fallen 
asleep in my saddle and dreamed, or 
whether I had in reality visited this 
strange town. 


Carolene H. Harding . 


©tic ©tu ant) t\)t ©ap 

ANY years ago, when witches 
lived and mysteries were abun- 
dant, a poor young man started 
out in search of his fortune. 
After wandering around for 
a few days without ever having found a 
place to sleep over night, except on some 
moss-covered bank or bed of 1 eaves, he 
met an old man who asked him whifher he 
was journeying. The young man told him 
of his troubles, and in return was laugh- 
ingly told to try for die hand of the prin- 
cess. “For,” said his informant, “the 
King has offered his daughter’s hand to 
the man who will free her from the terrible 
witch who has enslaved her. But if the 
man fails, he will be put into prison for 
life as punishment.’’ 

With a lighter heart, but still wifli some 
foreboding, Paul went to the king and 
boldly stated his errand. The king con- 



W&t Mill and tiie flfllap 


23 


sented to his undertaking the search and 
Paul set out in high spirits. But at first 
the search seemed unavailing, and it was 
not till after he had been seeking all day 
for file mysterious witch on a large fiiickly- 
wooded mountain, that Paul came suddenly 
upon an old woman sifting in the front of 
her small house, peeling potatoes. 

“Good-day, my good dame/’ he said. 
“Would you listen to a poor journeyman 
who has travelled far and wide in search 
of his fortune?’’ 

“Can’t you see that I am busy, sir, 
getting my supper ? And if I have it not 
ready by twilight, I shall no longer he ftiis 
old dame. I pray you, sir, do not hinder 
me. 

“But may I not remain here over 
night ?— for I am so weak and spent from 
my day s travels that I can go no furfiier. 
Persuading file old woman was not an easy 
task, but she finally consented and led Paul 
into file house. 

At supper-time, no one came; only file 
old woman and Paul sat down, and he 
could not help wondering why it was so 
necessary for her to be on time wifii this 
meal. At the table, he suddenly startled 


24 


%je Mill anti tit flfllag 


her by requesting to see {he lost princess. 
The old woman cast him a sharp look, 
hut, thinking it would be impossible for 
him to free the maiden, she promised him 
a visit to the underground passages after 
supper, if he would tell no one. 

When they had finished eating, {herefore, 
she opened a trap-door in {he floor and led 
him down a pair of steep stairs into a long 
and narrow hallway. Dim lights were all 
that made it visible to the eye. Indented 
along the wall were different strange de- 
vices,— magic boxes filled wifh little red 
imps; magic wands; and fountains such as 
would send streams of water to any part 
of the earfh at the touch of a magic wand. 
The old witch explained each one to him 
as fhey walked through this ghostlike place. 

At last, when they had walked far and 
everything had become dark, {he witch 
opened a door leading into a brilliantly 
illuminated room. Here all— chairs, tables 
and couches, -was covered with gold and 
silver ; and in {he centre of the room on a 
gleaming fhrone was seated a beautiful 
maiden. As soon as Paul saw her, he 
loved her, and determined to set her free. 
But how could he do it? The witch had 


TLjt flflliH anti tfie flfliag 


25 


refused to reveal the secret of enchantment 
to him; yet he could not return to the 
King without the maiden. He refused 
therefore to leave die place. The direats of 
the witch were all of no avail against his 
determination, and she finally consented 
that he should sleep in a room near hy, 
which she had never entered and where 
she drought the evil ones stayed. Leav- 
ing him as she imagined, to his deadi, she 
returned to earth. 

Meanwhile Paul, with no thought of 
evil spirits, went into the dark room to 
spend the night. He groped his way around 
in the dark but found nothing to lie on 
save damp eardi. As he slept, he had what 
seemed to him a dream, in which appeared 
small black dwarfs, armed wifh dimmed 
lanterns. They told him die secret and 
gave him a large key with which to un- 
lock die doors of enchantment. 

The next morning when he awoke, he 
saw a beam of light shining into die room, 
and redected on die key. He picked the 
key up, -when the beam immediately 
changed to a large keyhole. He pushed 
the key in wifh a firm grasp, and behold !— 
there before his eyes was the beautiful 


26 


ttfllill and tjje flfliag 


maiden. He seized her by tbe band-and 
then everything grew dark. In die flash 
of a moment fliey found themselves back 
to earth again ; the witch had disappeared, 
and die enchantment was forever broken. 

Paul and the princess went before the 
king and related the tale to him. And the 
king gave Paul his daughter’s hand, as he 
had promised, and besides this, enough 
gold and silver to keep them all the days 
of their lives. 

Cornelia Wales . 



9 0ap at 0(rantimotl)er , £ 



OTHER ng the last 

button on Mary Katherine’s 
blue calico dress when the 
wheels stopped at the gate. 
Without even waiting to have 
her hair ribbon straightened, Mary Kath- 
erine ran to the window. 

“It’s Grandfather!’’ she cried, and was 
off down stairs. 

As she threw open the front door, her 
grandfather waved his hand and called, 
“Do you know of any one who might 
want to go to the country to-day?” 

“Oh, goody! Did you come for me?” 
and she ran hack into the house. 

In a very few minutes she was seated 
in the buggy with her nightgown in a 
neatly-tied package on her knee, -for when 
she went to grandmother’s she always 
stayed over night. As the old horse 
started, Mary Kafherine looked up into 


28 


ft SDag at (Btantimotfiit’g 

her grandfather s face with a satisfied smile 
and settled herself for the drive. Grand- 
father seemed almost as pleased as Mary 
Katherine, and his kindly old face beamed 
as he returned the child’s smile. 

He chuckled as he said, “ Grandmother 
has a surprise for you this morning, little 
girl." 

“ Really! What? Did she bake 
cookies ? ’’ 

;; N °." 

“ Make my doll a new dress ? 

;; N °." 

“ Are there kittens? " 

“No." 

“Pups?" 

“I’m afraid if you keep on in the way 
you have begun you will never guess. 
You had better wait until you see Grand- 
mother." 

“Well never get there and I don’t see 
how I can wait." Mary Katherine sighed 
and gazed unseeingly at a field full of 
beautiful daisies and yarrow. 

After several minutes’ silence, Mary 
Katherine addressed her grandfather again. 
“Mother told me not to wade in the 
brook— she says it’s dog days and I mustn’t 


& 2)ag at (BrantimotSet’g 


29 


go in the water. It wouldn’t hurt me, 
would it?” 

Grandfather never refused Mary Kath- 
erine anything, but as this was her mother’s 
order all he could say was, “ Of course 
Mother knows best.” 

Just then they came in sight of a small 
grove of pine and chestnut trees, and in 
the centre of the grove, almost hidden from 
view, was a little brown house. And was 
it—? Yes! There was Grandmother on 
the porch! Mary Katherine waved her 
handkerchief as they turned into the gate 
and when the buggy stopped before the door, 
she jumped out into Grandmother’s arms. 
And there was Uncle Dick, too ! He had 
come to take the horse to the stable, for 
Grandfather was a cripple and could not 
attend to such matters himself. 

“Grandfather said you had a surprise 
for me,” Mary Katherine announced, “ and 
it wasn’t cookies, dolls, pups or kittens. 
Is it pigs?” 

“ A goose,”— this from Uncle Dick. 

“Dick!” remonstrated Grandmother, and 
Uncle Dick laughed. 

“ Oh ! When did you get it ? Where is 
it?” 


30 


& 2Dag at (HSrantimotfiet’g 


“ ‘It’ is in the kitchen. May she see it 
now, Mother?’’ 

But Mary Katherine did not wait for 
consent, -she was off for the back door. 
In a minute there came a shout of joy 
from the direction in which the child had 
disappeared and the trio at the front of the 
house smiled as they heard it. Mary 
Katherine soon appeared, arm in arm 
with a liftle girl about her own age, both 
were smiling broadly and the smile hurst 
into a giggle as Mary Katherine asked, 
“Did you mean Louisa May when you 
said that about the goose, Uncle Dick?’’ 

Uncle Dick only laughed, as he jumped * 
into the buggy and gathered up the lines. 
Both children ran forward and cried in a 
chorus, “Won’t you let us ride to the barn 
wifh you?’’ 

Grandfather lifted them to the seat be- 
side Uncle Dick and with a “Do be care- 
ful from Grandmother, they were off. 

“Louisa May, when did you come? 
Did Uncle Dick bring you out this morn- 
ing?” 

“Yes. Your grandmother sent word to 
Moflier last night. She wanted to surprise 
you and she knew you’d like me befter 


& 2Dag at (Brantimotijet’g 


31 


{ban anything else-because I’m your best 
friend, you know.” 

“ Of course,” and both girls smiled con- 
tentedly. When {hey reached the barn, 
they first watched Uncle Dick unhitch, and 
then they were off to see the horses and 
cows. After they had seen all {heir friends 
down stairs {hey ran up the steps to the 
second floor, which opened into a higher 
part of the barn-yard. Here were a lot 
of old wagons and carriages, but Mary 
Katherine and Louisa May were especially 
attracted by an old covered buggy, into 
which they climbed. And- Oh! What ex- 
citing times they did have! They went to 
picnics and driving parties until {hey grew 
tired of such amusements and then {hey 
drove in mad haste through great forests, 
trying to get away from some wild beast 
or to escape a pursuing tribe of gipsies. 

But after the last wild drive {hey de- 
cided that such excitement was too hard on 
their nerves and Louisa May suggested 
that they go up into the haymow and 
jump,— which they immediately did. When 
the dinner hell sounded, two very hungry 
liftle girls crawled down to {he barn floor 
and made their way toward the house. 


32 


& 3)ag at (Btanfrmotfiet’ig 


After dinner Mary Katherine and Louisa 
May decided they would like to spend the 
afternoon at the brook. With a liftle coax- 
ing they gained Grandmother’s consent, on 
condition that diey would he very careful 
and would not go into the water. So when 
they had helped feed die dog and cat and 
visited the pigs and chickens, they set off 
for the water. 

As the girls approached the liftle dam 
near which they usually played, they were 
delighted to see diree small boys from a 
neighboring farm. The boys were trying 
to sail a float of their own manufacture 
and when they spied the two girls coming 
through the lane, one of fhem shouted, 

“Hello, there! Have you come to 
wade ? ” 

Mary Kadierine looked at Louisa May 
and Louisa May looked at Mary Kath- 
erine. 

“ Our mothers don’t allow us to wade,’’ 
they chorused. 

“Ah! Come on! It won’t hurt you 
any.” 

But die two girls shook their heads 
sadly. It would never do to disobey de- 
liberately. However they agreed to stand 


fl 2Dag at (IBtantmtotiiet’g 


33 


on the shore and hold a rope which the 
hoys attached to flie float— just so they 
wouldn’t “feel that they was clear out of 
it.” 

At first fliey stood well back from the 
water, hut as they became more excited 
over the pursuit of a fleet of pirates, they 
drew closer and closer to the edge of the 
brook, and finally stepped out on two old 
boards that were partly on solid ground 
and partly in {he water. And then— Oh, 
my! The oarsmen of flie ship took an un- 
usually long stroke and sent the float be- 
yond the length of flie rope. There was 
a splash, a scream,— and two very wet little 
girls stepped out of flie water and looked 
at each oflier in dismay. 

“I ’spose,” said Mary Katherine, “since 
we are so wet we might as well wade a 
little before we go home.” 

“ Yes, I spose we might,” replied Louisa 
May, and before you could say “Jack 
Robinson” two very wet pairs of shoes 
and stockings were on flie shore and two 
very guilty little girls were wading in the 


34 


& 2Dag at (BtantmtotSer^ 


ings and started through the lane. But for 
some reason their minds were not quite 
comfortable. 

“Maybe we shouldn’t have gone in. 
mused Mary Katherine. 

“Yes, maybe we shouldn’t have gone 
in.” 

And they went on in silence. Grand- 
mother was standing in the kitchen door, 
and as they approached she looked at their 
bedraggled clothes in amazement. 

“Why, my dear little girls!” she ex- 
claimed, “What happened to you?” And 
then she sat down in the door step with a 
dripping figure on each side and heard the 
whole story. There were a few tears shed, 
and after the story had been told, Mary 
Katherine drew very near to Grandmother 
and, putting her little fat arms around the 
old woman’s neck, she whispered, “I’m 
terribly sorry, Granny dear.” 

And Grandmother didn’t scold. She just 
kissed them both and then told them stories 
until smiles began to show on the tear- 
stained faces. 

“But dear me!” And Grandmother 
jumped up and started into the house, “ I 
almost forgot that you are likely to take 


ft SDag at (Etantmtot&et’g 


35 


your deafli of cold! Come right into the 
kitchen and dry your clothes.’’ 

“I m afraid we can’t wear these muddy 
dresses to supper,” Louisa May said as 
she came into the kitchen. 

“No, I’m afraid not,” and Mary Kath- 
erine looked dejectedly at the mud-stained 
dresses. 

“How would it be,” suggested Grand- 
mother, “if you should go up-stairs, take a 
warm bath and jump right into bed ? You 
can pretend fiiat you are ill and I will 
bring your supper up to you. When 
Grandfather goes to town fhis evening, he 
can bring you clean dresses for morning.” 

This idea highly delighted Mary Kafh- 
erine and Louisa May and they ran up-stairs 
Grandmother following to help them un- 
dress. 

When they had finished their supper, 
Grandmother asked how they would like 
to amuse themselves until bedtime. Would 
they like her to play checkers with them 
or should she read to them? 

But Mary Katherine sighed and shook 
her head. “I’m so sleepy,” she said, “and 
when I’ve been naughty, I like tojjet to 
sleep before the whippoor-will sings.’ 


36 


& 2Dag at (Brantmtotfjgt’g 


“Yes,” agreed Louisa May, “Let’s Jet 
to sleep before tbe whippoor-will sings.” 

And so Grandmother kissed them both 
good nigbt, and went down-stairs to finish 
her evening work. 

Marion H. Blood . 



X n ti)e ®I>trlpool 

HARLES had been told not 
to go near die bridge when be 
was in swimming, but Charles, 
like most six-year-old boys, 
preferred to do as he wished 
radier than as bis modier wished him to 
do. He had been warned of the danger 
there on account of a whirlpool, and his 
fadier had put a rope across the stream 
to mark the dangerous spot. Charles had 
never ventured near the rope, and so his 
nurse had ceased to watch him very closely. 
One day, dierefore, she sat down in the 
shade of a tree to read, leaving Charles to 
himself. 

The water looked very tempting near 
the bridge. “ It can’t hurt to try it for 
just a minute, drought Charles, as he lay 
on the bank in die warm summer sun. 
Besides, such big hoys as he knew how to 
swim. 



38 


3it tie flfll&trlpool 


Charles slipped under the rope, paddled 
on a short distance, and then — ! He was 
being whirled around and around, all {he 
while moving downward with lightning 
rapidity. Suddenly he stopped wifh a dread- 
ful {hud to find himself in a strange land 
full of queer, fishlike women, whose long 
black hair hung around their sad faces. 
Charles watched them for some time, 
as they swam to and fro, combing their 
hair or smoofhing their ruffled scales and 
fins. But he was not able to reach them 
or to call for help, so he lay there, wait- 
ing. Presently he heard laughing and a great 
splashing of water as the strange creatures 
hurried toward him. 

“ Pooh !” one of them cried, “it is only 
a boy.’’ 

Another looked at him scornfully and 
then turned away, splashing a great deal 
of water into his eyes with her tail. They 
went a little way from him and talked 
very loudly together. 

“To {hink that it wasn’t a man,” one 
muttered. “ I am sure {hat I should have 
won him,” and she smiled at herself in the 
water mirror. 

Now Charles had read about mermaids, 


Kn tl)g flflijnrlpool 


39 


but be bad never supposed {bey were like 
this. So {bey bad been banished from the 
earth because of their ill natures and fheir 
uncongenial manners, to remain under 
water until some heroic man might be per- 
suaded to release them! 

Finally the mermaids returned to start 
Charles on his journey; and how they 
laughed as they watched him tossing about 
in the whirlpool! 

A second {hud was felt and a second time 
Charles stopped in a strange land. This 
time, however, it was a beautiful city whose 
streets were paved wifh coral and whose 
houses were of pearls. The people here seemed 
gay and happy and very much like mor- 
tals. No sight had ever seemed so beau- 
tiful to Charles, and he began to wish that 
he might stay {here always. 

He heard music, {he sweetest music 
imaginable, to which all the gayly-dressed 
people marched in his direction. The leader 
of die procession dismounted from his 
handsome sea-horse and advanced towards 
Charles with arms outstretched. 

“Welcome to Water City!” he cried, 
and lifted Charles to a small sea-horse 
which stood beside his huge one. The pro- 


40 


In flflifiltlpool 


cession {hen filed back into tbe city and 
finally into a large ball where gorgeously- 
dressed women awaited {heir coming. 

Could it he?- Yes, on the fiirone sat a 
“really truly king, and beside him a 
queen ! Charles was dazzled by file beauty 
of it all, and could only blink his eyes in 
wonderment as the lovely court ladies came 
to look at him. 

But when {he questioning began, all was 
different. 

“How did you get here?’’ and, “What 
route did you take?’’ were the first in- 
quiries. 

Charles was dazed; he did not under- 
stand, and his lip began to tremble a very 
liftle. But it would never do to cry before 
a king. 

“I was drowned,’’ he managed to say 
ever so softly, but some of the people 
heard it and laughed. 

“And how did it happen?’’ the king 
asked kindly, as he slipped a pearl neck- 
lace over Charles’ head. But {he splen- 
dor had ceased to appeal to Charles and, 
forgetting everyfiiing but his own troubles, 
he gave way to tears. Amazement and 
dismay were written on {he faces of the 


In tf)g flfliljfrlpool 


41 


courtiers. No one had been known to cry 
in Water City; {here all was happiness and 
joy. Mortals surely must be different. 

44 Mamma, ’ Charles kept saying between 
sobs; and then everyone guessed his secret. 

The king did not repeat his question, 
but only said, 44 He cannot stay in Water 
City. Disobedience is a great sin.” So, 
after giving up his necklace, Charles went 
a {bird time through the whirlpool. 

Bruised and scratched, he found himself 
at last in a horrible place, -a den of sea- 
serpents full of small fishes and serpents 
who were ruled by die Great Monster. 

The Monster, whose huge eyes seemed 
starting from his head, made a hissing noise 
as he swam over Charles, tearing with his 
tail the tender skin of the boy s face. Then 
slimy fishes and small, slippery tadpoles 
crawled all over him, and minute frogs 
stuck in his hair. But Charles was unable 
to lift his bruised arms and push any of 
them away. 

The tiny creatures disappeared as the 
Monster, with a great splashing of water, 
swept under Charles and hurled him many 
feet away; then, as he waited for him to 
fall, took great pleasure in glaring at the 


42 


M tit TOitlpooI 


sufferings of liis victim. Charles did fall ; 
but the heavy {hud caused the slide on 
which he had been resting to give way 
with a loud crash, sending him once more 
into the whirlpool. 

Charles knew nofhing for sometime, but 
when at last he regained consciousness, he 
found {hat he was in Fairyland. Here 
{he liftle people hurried about, seemingly 
very busy. Six very small and queerly- 
dressed men came towards Charles, and, 
lifting him high above their heads, skipped 
back to {he city with him. Again Charles 
was taken before a king who asked him 
how he came {here and if he had been sent 
for punishment. Alas! he had disobeyed, 
or he would never have reached this strange 
land. Charles told the whole story, from 
his slipping under the rope to his arrival 
in Fairyland. 

The king decreed that his punishment 
should be to tend the sea-caftle in {he fields 
for twenty years, at {he end of which 
time, if none were missing, he would he 
given a position of honor in Fairyland. 
The king ended by saying, “Pray to our 
sea-god and mymph each night, and they 


M tie flfliSitlpooI 


43 


The task which had been given Charles 
was a hard one, as the sea-cows were very 
much afraid of the mortal. Each night 
when he returned from die fields, he cried 
himself to sleep because one or two cows 
were missing. The king sent word that 
all cows lost would add years to his 
penance, and that the loss of die cow widi 
die golden bell would cost him his life. 
So Charles worked hard to see that all of 
diem were brought home at night. 

One day the cow with the gold bell 
waded into a stream of water and refused 
to move. Having exhausted his supply 
of stones, Charles plunged into the water 
after her, and suddenly began to sink. 
Faster and faster he whirled; dien finally 
stopped with a very hard bump. 

Charles raised himself on his elbows and 
rubbed his eyes. Yes, he was still lying 
on die banks near die bridge ; and his slip- 
ping under the rope had been only a 
dream. How glad he was fhat he had not 
disobeyed ! 

^Rjuth Rodgers. 


Chr Queen’s fiirst @eB 
fiose 

NE time long ago in Fairy- 
land, all the fairies came 
together to celebrate the birth- 
day of the Queen. Such gay 
liftle fairies they were, dressed 
in die petals and leaves of the flowers, and 
driving their chariots drawn by dragon- 
flies, or prancing by on their steeds, the 
lady-bugs. 

In die palace, the Queen stood waiting 
to receive her subjects, clad in the soft, fra- 
grant petals of the rose. Over this gar- 
ment was draped a filmy cobweb that the 
industrious spiders had spun upon the 
grass to catch the dewdrops that now 
sparkled in her crown. 

But the Queen was not happy, although 
she had such loving subjects and such a 
beautiful palace. She was longing for a 



W&t SDuem’0 jfirgt 1BU& Iftoge 45 


new dress. It was die custom for the Queens 
of Fairyland to dress in the petals of the 
rose, and although her subjects had searched 
far and near for a red rose, diey had found 
only white ones,— and she had grown so 
tired of white dresses ! 

Among die Queen’s pages was liftle Fly- 
away, whom she loved dearly, and whom 
she had dressed in die leaves of the rose 
to mark him as her special attendant. Liftle 
Flyaway heard her complaining of her 
dress and felt very sorry, for when she 
was sad, he was sad, too. So he wandered 
out into die forest, away from the odier 
pages and the maids, who were watching 
two caterpillars race, and sat down to diink 
how he might make the Queen merry 
again. “Oh, if only I might bring her a 
red rose before night!” he sighed. 

“So, liftle Flyaway, that is what you 
are so sorrowful about ! said a soft voice 
behind him, and he turned to see the Fairy 
Godmother, who always helps die fairies 
when diey are in trouble. 

“Yes,’ he said. “Why do not red roses 
grow in our kingdom, Fairy Godmodier?” 

“ Listen, liftle Flyaway,’ said she. ‘ Be- 
yond die edge of this forest lies die king- 


46 


flBuetn'0 jFtttft IRed l&ostf 


dom of the rosebugs. The King of die 
Rosebugs bates your Queen and for very 
spite will allow only white roses to grow 
in her kingdom. As soon as a red rose- 
bush springs up, be leads bis army against 
it and destroys it. 

44 There is a legend in Fairyland diat if 
anyone is brave enough to venture into 
die domain of diis king and kill him, red 
roses will spring up in Fairyland after a 
rose has been dipped in die King’s blood. 
But alas ! no one is brave enough to ven- 
ture. 

44 1 will go!” cried Flyaway, springing 
up ;< 

“You, liftle Flyaway!” answered tbe 
Fairy Godmodier in amazement. “Ob no! 
The King is great and strong— be would 
kill you !” 

“I care not if be kills me,” said Fly- 
away. “ But I will baftle widi him,” add- 
ing softly,— 44 for die love of my queen.” 

Then tbe Fairy Godmodier said nothing, 
for she saw that Flyaway was determined 
to go, but led him deeper into tbe forest 
and gave him die top of an acorn for 
shield, and a pine needle for spear. She 
told him tbe way dirough tbe forest and 


Wbt flBueen’g JFftgft IReU l&o&e 47 


then hade him farewell very sorrowfully, 
for she felt sure she would never see liftle 
Flyaway again. 

Flyaway trudged on dirough the forest 
according to the directions of the Fairy 
Godmother and after a long while reached 
the edge of the forest, where he saw the 
King with all his subjects around him, 
holding his court under a rosebush. Fly- 
away advanced towards the King, who, 
when he saw him coming, called out wifh 
a mighty voice, “Who are you?’’ 

“I am Flyaway, page of the Queen of 
the Fairies,’’ cried Flyaway, “ and I have 
come to kill you.’ 

Then the King and his subjects laughed ; 
hut this only angered Flyaway the more. 
So he shook his spear at die King and 
cried, “ Come on, coward ! ” At this, the 
King buckled on his dazzling golden armor 
over his robes of brown, and came out to 
meet Flyaway. 

The wondering subjects drought to see 
die King cut down his liftle opponent at 
the first blow, hut as Flyaway was very 
quick in dodging the King’s weapon, die 
battle was not over quite so quickly as the 
subjects had expected. Soon Flyaway grew 


48 Sbuttn’# jFittft 1 Roge 


very tired, and the King hit him so hard 
that the blood began to flow ; but the brave 
page remembered his queen and fought on. 
Finally, the King slipped, and Flyaway 
quickly pierced him through the heart wifli 
his sword. 

When the rosebugs saw that their king 
was dead, they were greatly frightened and 
fell down at Flyaway’s feet, begging for 
mercy. He told them he would spare flieir 
lives if they would promise never to molest 
the roses again. Then he cut a bud from the 
rosebush, dipped it in flie King’s blood and 
set out for Fairyland. 

In the evening, just as the fireflies were 
lighting up flie banquet hall, he came to the 
palace, and, laying the rose at his queen’s 
feet, told her how he had slain flie King 
of the Rosebugs and brought the first red 
rose of Fairyland to her. Then flie Queen 
made him lead flie hall with her. More- 
over, she commanded that as a memorial 
of his devotion to her, some of flie red 
roses he draped with the green of his suit. 
So, whenever you see flie moss rosebuds, 
you must remember liftle Flyaway, the 
Fairy. 


Harriet C. Scott. 


©l)P tl )t ©eiUHlotuerg JJmg 
Gljetr JJeatis 

THOUSAND years ago in 
the land of the fairies, {here was 
a very sad occurrence which 
made {hose liftle people sor- 
rowful for many days. This 
event affected particularly the race of fairies 
which lived in bell-like flowers, such as {he 
hyacinth, columbine, blue-bell and lily-of- 
the-valley. 

Near a large lily-of-the-valley bed, {he 
favorite haunt of Liliput, one of {he fairies, 
{here was a small coftage in which lived a 
liftle girl. Her father and mother were 
dead and her only companions were a dog 
and cat, who were both devoted to Cynfliia, 
their mistress. Being exceedingly jealous 
of her love, moreover, these pets were al- 
ways quarreling. 

Cynthia was a prefty little girl, with 
black hair and eyes and very red cheeks; 



50 flfllfig tf)t grilstlotoirg ^ang ttitit hiatus 


but she was not very good. Not that sbe 
was particularly bad, either, except that sbe 
did mischievous things to annoy people, 
her pets, and even the few fairies who had 
made themselves known to her. One of 
the latter was Liliput, a wee fairy many 

E ars old, with a wizened-up face and skin 
e a walnut shell, dry and wrinkled and 
brown. Although not liking Cynthia’s 
teasing ways, Liliput felt sorry for the 
lonely girl and often talked with her. 

One morning when Cynthia was walk- 
ing in the meadow near her house with her 
dog, Trip, and her cat. Trap, she began to 
tease them by telling each the filings she 
liked most about the other. They stood 
it at first with much patience, but finally, 
when Cynthia told Trip that his tail was 
much longer and bushier than Trap’s, the 
cat, who was very proud of her tail, flew 
upon Trip and began to claw him. Then 
and fliere ensued a fight that was memora- 
ble in the lives of Cynthia, of Trip, and 
of Trap. Cynthia was greatly frightened 
and was beginning to fear for the lives of 
both her pets, when suddenly Liliput 
jumped from a lily-of-the-valley and ap- 
peared on the scene of action. 


flflijjg tl )t TBtlbt Iotoerg li?ang tfieir 51 


“ This strife must cease ! ” he cried with 
all his might. “ I forbid it.” 

His loud voice, coming from the ground, 
apparently~for Liliput was so tiny— fright- 
ened Trip and Trap away from each other. 
Then Liliput, climbing upon a boulder so 
as to be better seen, demanded what was 
the trouble. After an interval, for all 
three of them tried to talk at once, he suc- 
ceeded in getting a clear account of the 
fray. Finally, after considering the ques- 
tion carefully, Liliput decided that Trap 
was in die wrong. Much to Cynthia’s sor- 
row, he decreed that Trap should be turned 
into a beetle, not knowing that the beetle 
was the one invincible enemy of his own 
race. 

Cynthia and Trip returned home, both 
feeling mournful. In the afternoon, Cyn- 
ttiia, with her dog, went out to gafher some 
lilies-of-the- valley. To her horror, she 
saw that they were all uprooted. Look- 
ing about her to discover the cause, she 
perceived Liliput and the beetle near flie 
brook that ran by her cottage, having 
a wordy conflict. She watched them, and 
soon could tell that Liliput was getting {he 
worst of it. The beetle was threatening 


52 TOg tit TBtlbt lotomt Ijana t&etr i?*rat»g 


to pull up all the bell-flowers be saw, and 
tbe two enemies were becoming more angry 
each moment. Finally they came to blows, 
and tbe beetle was pushing Liliput nearer 
and nearer tbe water, when Cynthia inter- 
vened, and with one stroke of her Anger 
turned Ale beetle over on bis back. This 
she {bought would make him powerless; 
but no sooner had bis back touched tbe 
ground, {ban tbe beetle was transformed, 
and a roaring, bowling tiger appeared be- 
fore her as if by magic. But it was not 
wonderful, since in tbe beginning tbe beetle 
had been a cat, and tbe tiger, you know, 
is only a very Aerce cat. Stricken with 
horror, Cynfliia, Trip and Liliput stood 
rooted to tbe spot. Wifli a terriAc roar, 
tbe tiger rushed upon them and devoured 
them all one after tbe oflier ; then— fell dead. 

All Fairyland wept over tbe untimely 
deafli of liftle Liliput, and even their much- 
loved bell-flowers bowed their beads in 
sympathy. That is {he reason why tbe 
bells of tbe columbine, lily-of-the-valley, 
hyacinth and blue-bell always droop, in- 
stead of lifting {heir faces to tbe sun. 


Mary King Mellon. 


C)\)t Qrtnce’0 ©jgft 

IGH on a hill which over- 
looked die country for miles 
around, stood the castle of good 
King Fritz and of Queen 
Louisa. High walls and towers 
guard it on all sides from aftack, and within 
these walls in a beautiful garden played 
the liftle princesses. They were dear liftle 
girls and loved each other much more than 
ordinary liftle girls love {heir sisters. Yet, 
alftiough fhese princesses were as happy as 
birds, {hey had one wish which had never 
been breathed to {heir father and mother. 
They wanted a liftle broftier. 

One day there seemed to he great ex- 
citement in the castle, and the liftle girls in 
the garden sent {heir nurse in to find out 
the cause. The nurse came back out of 
breath, and cried : 

“0 my Princesses, my Princesses, you 
have a liftle brother!’’ 



54 




Liftle Princess Katrina and Princess 
Gracia were so pleased that diey sang all 
the rest of the day, and it was with diffi- 
culty that their nurse persuaded them to go 
to bed that night. All was not so happy, 
however, at the castle. The news had at 
once been sent out through die kingdom 
that a prince had been horn ; but one item 
of information had been wifhheld— the poor 
liftle prince had hands like cats’ paws. The 
court physicians were consulted, hut could 
do nothing. One suggested ftiat the paws 
be cut off and little cork hands be substi- 
tuted; but the Queen would not listen to 
this, and the Prince’s hands were left as 
they were. 

The Prince grew fast, and his bright blue 
eyes, yellow hair, and fair skin, added to 
his charming manners and happy, smiling 
face, made him the pet of die few who were 
permitted to see him. His tutors were the 
best to be had in the land, and yet so 
bright and intelligent was he that at die 
age of ten he could be taught no more. 
Although he was known by no one except 
his special servants and a few chosen friends 
of the royal family, he knew of all who 
came to court. 


®&c Prince's* ®a0fe 


55 


One day a strange-looking old woman 
appeared before the gates and demanded to 
be admitted. She called herself the “Solver 
of Mysteries/’ and ashed to be taken be- 
fore the Prince. The courtier whom she 
addressed was surprised-for few knew a 
prince still lived— and paid no attention to 
her. The Solver of Mysteries, as we shall 
call her, was about to repeat her question 
when a servant came up to her and said, 
“Wilt follow me?” Then in a whisper, 
“The Prince Rudolph would speak wifh 
you. 

Let us, too, follow the servant and the 
Solver of Mysteries. 

She was taken into an immense garden, 
filled wifh flowers, among which fountains 
here and there shot forth cooling streams 
of water. Here in a shady summer-house 
sat the Prince. As soon as the old woman 
saw him, her face cleared, and, hastening 
up to him as fast as her rheumatic limbs 
would bear her, she asked in a trembling 
voice 

“ Rudolph, my prince, is it you in very 
truth ? They told me you were dead. ’ 

“Yes,” answered the Prince, “I know it 


56 


W&t prince'0 'STagft 


has been so reported throughout die king- 
dom of Lotharia.” 

The old woman then asked him ques- 
tion after question regarding himself. Hav- 
ing learned all she could, or all she wanted 
to know, she suddenly bowed to file Prince 
and, turning to the servant, said, “ Fellow, 
I am ready to go.’ The Prince was 
troubled. He started up as if to call her 
back, but changing his mind, sank upon his 
couch. 

From {his time on, no one saw a smile 
upon the prince’s face. His only solace 
seemed to he in going over the questions 
the old woman had asked, in order to see 
if he could not find a clue to the mystery 
of her appearance. No more were his sis- 
ters welcome companions. The Queen be- 
came very anxious about her son, and had 
{he kingdom searched for the old woman ; 
but the latter could neifiier be found nor 
heard of. 

Five years afterwards, the Solver of 
M> ^steries again appeared at the castle and 
asked for the Prince. This time she was 
admitted at once. When led into the pres- 
ence of the Prince, she said:— 


U&e Prince's Uagft 57 

“Rudolph, my Prince, rememberest fiiou 

9 ” 
me c 

“Yes, Solver of Mysteries,” said he, 
“But why is it your questions have so 
troubled me since you were here? ” 

A queer expression came into the old 
woman s face, and, trembling, she began to 
speak in a low, droning voice. 

“Fifty years ago when I was but a 
child, I was in a dark wood one day when 
a fairy wifh golden hair and gauzy wings 
appeared to me. ‘Fear not, liftle girl,’ said 
she, ‘I am come to reveal your fate to 
you. From this day forth you must search 
the earfh until you find a prince wifh hands 
like cats’ paws, and a princess with cats’ ears. 
You must bring them togefher; for unless 
these two meet they will never have human 
hands and ears.’ She disappeared, and al- 
though I was then only twelve years of 
age, I immediately began my search. But 
not until five years ago did my prophetic 
instinct tell me I had found you, my 
Prince. Since then I have been searching 
for the Princess, and I am come now to 
lead you to her. 

At intervals during this speech, the old 
woman had been seized with such violent 


58 


W&z $tinte’& 


trembling {bat sbe could scarcely speak. 
Another attack now came upon ber, and 
when its fury bad spent itself, sbe fell 
back— dead. All were frightened; not so 
much by wbat sbe bad revealed, as by tbe 
tragic end of ber story. Most of all did 
tbe Prince feel awe. 

They buried tbe old women in tbe gar- 
den where sbe bad died. Then tbe Prince, 
who was now almost twenty-one, decided 
to set out on bis search with only one 
companion. He must find {he Princess, since 
tbe old woman could not now lead him to 
ber. He traveled up and down the land until 
bis nickname, tbe Searcher, became so well 
known {hat many, not knowing be was a 
prince, kicked him from their doors. At 
last bis search was rewarded, and in the 
kingdom of Arbetbia, in a castle on a high 
peninsula, be found {be Princess. Having 
been told of {he Prince by {be old woman, 
sbe bad been watching for him for four- 
teen years. Everything was as {be old 
woman had said ; yet sbe bad not foretold 
all {bat {he meeting would mean to each. 

Tbe Prince remained in tbe castle for a 
year, and, having at tbe end of that time 
received die Princess’s promise that sbe 


W&z ffttttce’g 'flEagfe 


59 


would be bis bride, be started back to bis 
borne. There be found affairs in a sad 
state. His fafher, the King, bad died dur- 
ing bis absence, and, as fhere was no known 
prince to take bis place, the chief nobles 
bad assumed control. The Prince having 
established peace and happiness in fbe king- 
dom, returned to claim bis bride. 

Both lived to a happy old age; their 
sickness tended by tender nurses and their 
deafh mourned by loyal subjects. This 
story and fhe remembrance of their reign 
is yet a favorite topic of conversation 
among the people of Lotbaria. 

Mary C. TSrinton. 


Cfte gtngtjom of fjrad)nea 

T was a sultry afternoon, and 
in despair I sought the garret 
with my books. Ensconced in 
a wide airy window, I en- 
deavored in vain to collect my 
thoughts. I noticed a spider swinging back 
and forth in the breeze. “‘Won’t you 
come into my parlor ? ’ said the spider to 
the flv,” I sang gaily. Was it frightened? 
Quick as a flash it went up fhe silken rope 
to its weh, and disappeared into the hole 
behind. 

“Won’t you come into my parlor? ” 

I started and looked around, hut could 
see no one. The question was repeated— 
and there, dangling at fhe end of a long 
silken rope, was a huge spider looking 
straight at me. Immediately, an intense 
desire seized me to enter fhat black hole 
behind the web. On my acceptance of the 
'invitation the spider disappeared, but soon 



kingdom of fltacjmea 


61 


a chair-like object was lowered for me. 
Slowly and steadily I was raised to regions 
as yet unexplored. 

Wbat a surprise awaited me! Instead 
of entering a dark bole, I was taken flirough 
tbe gates of a beautiful garden. Far in 
tbe distance was a magnificent white build- 
ing, tbe like of which I had never seen. 
My attention was naturally attracted to 
the spider who had invited me. I saw 
that he was really handsome, as spiders go, 
and that he seemed to be a dignitary, for 
all paid him homage. 

“ I shall place my kingdom at your dis- 
posal for a time,’’ he said, thus answering 
the question that had formed in my mind. 
“I am very glad of this opportunity of 
showing a mortal die true side of a spider’s 
life. Welcome to the kingdom of Arachnea!” 

I expressed my very great gratitude and 
spoke of my admiration for spiders. “ For 
that, you are having your reward,’’ the 
king replied. He consulted for a moment 
wifh his attendants and then expressed his 
sorrow at not being able to accompany 
me; an affair of state required his atten- 
tion. 

In the kingdom of Arachnea the fly is 


62 


Hmgtiom of &rac|m*a 


the food, the slave and the beast of bur- 
den. Everywhere, flies were seen work- 
ing under their cruel task-masters. We 
were drawn through {he gardens by a pair 
of blue-boftle flies hitched to an odd liftle 
carriage. Everywhere, transient yet 
strangely beautiful flowers were growing. 
As we neared {he palace, I halted the car- 
riage, desiring to see something of the king- 
dom. Not far from the palace were huge 
domes of white silken appearance. These 
were the royal incubators. I learned {hat 
after the descendants of {he blood royal 
left these early homes, fhey were taken to 
the schools and seminaries (which I did 
not care to visit) at the western side of the 
kingdom. All the buildings were of the 
same creamy-white silken material. 

The town just outside the gates was ex- 
cellently laid out. Here was no slum dis- 
trict. Everyone seemed prosperous and 
happy, {he better class living apart from 
the ofhers. The merchants had their stores, 
built entirely underground, in a quarter of 
their own. Most remarkable of all {he 
buildings in this odd town, were {he jail 
and the warehouses. The jail, constructed 
of heavy silken ropes many times strength- 


®&e trtngtiom ot jatacfiiua 


63 


ened, sheltered as vicious a looking lot of 
criminals as one would care to see at lib- 
erty. The warehouses, separated from the 
jail by a narrow alley, were full of flies, — 
living, dead, and in every state of prepar- 
ation for food. 

Just as we were leaving the warehouses, 
the King rode up on a magnificent blue- 
bottle fly, and invited me to come to the 
palace to witness a trial fhere. We en- 
tered by broad white steps, and were taken 
into a wide hall hung with beautiful 
drapery, some of which I was told had been 
taken from Noah s Ark. The court room 
was just back of fhis hall. What a spec- 
tacle fhere met my eyes! Never before 
had I seen such coloring as die robes of 
fhe judges presented. The prisoner was a 
meek-looking spider on trial for fhe at- 
tempted assassination of the King. The 
presiding judge rose to speak— 

“For gracious sake, here she is-fast 
asleep ! 

A hand, laid on my shoulder, brought 
me back to my books. 

Jean Gray Brinton. 




From flie Press of H. F. Ward 
Washington, Pa. 







DEC 2a 1305 




library of congress 



00051221fc,5A 

£ 



